Health bosses are 'incompetent' - but vital hospital facility WILL re-open at night

The Urgent Care centre at Hemel Hempstead Hospital will re-open during its night shift, the Gazette can confirm.
GPs are urging people to get the 'right care from the NHS this winter'GPs are urging people to get the 'right care from the NHS this winter'
GPs are urging people to get the 'right care from the NHS this winter'

This week we reported that the vital 24/7 facility - which was meant to plug the gap after Hemel’s A&E closed in 2009 - was set to be shut indefinitely between 10pm-8am because of staffing difficulties.

But health chiefs have now confirmed that the centre will re-open in the new year.

Hemel MP Mike Penning was not impressed.

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He said: “They’ve categorically said that the UCC will re-open. They’ve said that I was right. As they haven’t held a public consultation, they cannot close it permanently.

“I got them both legally and morally.”

He added: “I’ve said all along that the management of health services in our area are incompetent - both the Clinical Commissioning Group and at the Hospitals Trust.

“I don’t blame the staff - whether it’s medical staff or porters, they do an excellent job - but I do blame the management, some of whom are earning six-figure sums.

“We have won a skirmish, but we have not won the war.”

A spokesman for Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, which oversees healthcare across the area, was unable to comment.

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